Cebu Pacific Lands in Australia

Cebu Pacific launched its first low-cost long-haul flight to Australia on Tuesday when it dispatched its maiden flight from Manila to Sydney. The carrier will be operating flights between the two cities four times weekly every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.
cebu pacific australia flights
Image Source: Australian Aviation
With the introduction of the new Sydney route, Cebu Pacific becomes the only low-cost carrier operating between the two countries after the departure of Jetstar Airways, which previously served Manila from Darwin.

The new flights depart Manila at 12:15am, arriving in Sydney at 10:05am. The return trip departs Sydney at 11:35am, arriving back in Manila at 5:30pm. Cebu Pacific intends to increase frequency on the route in time for the peak Christmas season beginning on December 10, 2014 when it introduces a fifth weekly flight scheduled to operate on Wednesdays.

The inaugural flight to Sydney was greeted by the traditional water cannon salute. According to Alex Reyes, General Manager of Cebu Pacific's long haul division, the low-cost carrier is keen to work with budget carrier Tigerair Australia, after Cebu Pacific successfully built a relationship with Tigerair Singapore.

"Tigerair Australia would of course be a natural partner," said Reyes. "We have had discussions with Tiger in Australia." He added that many of Tigerair Singapore's destinations are now available for sale on the Cebu Pacific website as part of an interline agreement. In addition, Tigerair Philippines is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cebu Pacific, having been acquired earlier this year in a deal valued at $15 million. 

Image Source: Cebu Pacific
Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific remains positive regarding the possibility of an expanded bilateral agreement between the Philippines and Australia that would enable the carrier to operate daily service to Sydney, while expanding to additional cities in Australia. "Our understanding is that there has been an exchange of letters already from both sides," said Reyes. "Both sides are willing, I think it is just down to fixing a date." 

Philippine Airlines currently operates the largest number of flights between the Philippines and Australia serving a number of cities from Manila including Sydney, Melbourne, Darwin, and Brisbane. In addition, it is believed that PAL will be reinstating flights to Perth later this year. 
 
Cebu Pacific operates its flights to Australia using its 436-seat Airbus A330-300 aircraft. According to Reyes, the majority of tickets sold on the Sydney route have originated in Australia, with a number of travellers eager to visit the Philippines. "Forward bookings are looking good," Reyes added.

Currently, there are approximately 300,000 Filipinos residing in Australia. Cebu Pacific expects the new route to Sydney to boost tourism between the Philippines and Australia. "Australia and Philippines trade has been growing quite robustly, but we feel quite strongly that tourism potential both ways is not yet fully maximized," said Reyes. "There is still a lot of potential for additional traffic between the Philippines and Australia."



12 comments:

  1. Cebu Pacific's 436 seats A330-300s will definitely incovenience and discomfort a lot of those big-sized Aussies!

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    1. Partly because I live in Melbourne and partly because the add-ons in low cost carriers' fares (luggage, food, entertainment) are significant, I'll be sticking with Philippine Airlines. Another factor is that Cebu Pacific's pitch for its seats is pretty small: the seats do not recline if its A320s are any guide.

      However PAL need to run a better plane to and from Melbourne and Sydney than the 15 year old Auirbus A343s that lack at seat entertainment in economy class. Not good enough, Philippine Airlines.

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  2. I cant wait for CEB to come to Darwin and end the fares nightmare caused by PAL's direct flight to Manila... Article forget to mention that on CEB's website they also had flights from Perth???

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    1. The flight to Perth is not a direct flight operated by Cebu Pacific. It is a one-stop product, changing planes in Singapore to a flight operated by Tigerair through an interline agreement.

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  3. So will there be any pics of passengers having to be surgically removed from Cebu Pacific's cramped seats?

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  4. Ang AARTE LAHAT NG NAG Comment dito. Edi kayo na ang may kaya na mag BUSINESS CLASS. Hindi kayo ang target ng CEB. Maraming mga turista, backpackers mga OFW ang walang pakialam sa mga specifications na gusto niyo. pag PINOY sanay sa pagiging cowboy. Mga bakla ata kayong lahat dito gusto niyo mala princesa ang trato pag bumiyahe.

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    1. gusto ko lang ang dancing stewardess

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  5. Congrats Cebu Pacific! Now we can avail of the proverbial two birds in one stone when we vacation to Manila as what we've been doing almost every summer (July in the USA): to take a side trip from Manila to Australia on Cebu Pacific's no frills fares. We definitely plan to not bring excess luggages, just go backpacking, use our own headseats, bring our own empanadas and sumans, do some sane walking inside the Airbus 330 aisles for exercise and to let boring flying time pass by. This roughly sums up to at least $1,700 USD airfare for vacationing to both countries. Not a bad proposition. For those of you who are now starting to complain about seat pitch, food, amenities, etc., I am sorry for you. I am sure majority of you has not had this new no frills experience yet. Be nice to Cebu Pacific and to each other.

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  6. Ok lng na cramped....a little sacrifice but a lot of savings...personally I am happy with Cebu Pacific's offer...as long as I am alive when I get there. tried Singapore air and didnt like it....so how different will it be with Cebu Pacific, In fact Im more comfortable in it during my local flights. coz if am opting for a bigger seat e di tama mag business class....to that person who is commenting engativelyu, maybe your a big guy....then you deserve a bigger plane...you dont deserve Cebu pacific......rather use my extra fare money on stuff to buy in sydney...

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  7. CONGRATULATIONS CEBU PACIFIC!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  8. Being a pilot means embracing the unknown and adapting to the unexpected. AV8 Prep private pilot license

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